Promener- to walk

Question

Why the use of promener (to walk) in the sentence below! This is confusing.Parfois, je prends la voiture juste pour me promener dans la campagne.

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Not sure what translation has been given but «se promener» (to go for a ..) or «promener» (to take for a . . ) can be applied to means of transport other than walking.

se promener à pied - to go for a walk;

se promener en voiture - to go for a drive;

« (se) Promener en voiture» is a commonly used French expression, so worth learning

See link for other examples of the same basic construct.

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/promener/63556

Chris Wirt · Answer

Just to add to Maarten's answer: it might also mean that she is taking the car to a nice spot and then gets out and takes a hike there.

Jameson Lee-Yaw · Answer

Chris nailed it(as usual)!I think the explanation will be made clearer with a loose translation" Sometimes she  takes the car JUST to (drive to the countryside) and 'se promener' (go for a walk)."Below is a link to a great kwiz  lesson on the various verbs: Note especially the difference 'se promener' to take a walk(as she is describing..like on a trail) and promener (to walk a dog/pet). Also note marcher and aller.https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/when-to-use-se-promener-promener-marcher-or-aller-a-pied.